Saturday in the Park in Sioux City Offers Something for Everyone

Though a vocal minority questioned the drawing power of Melissa Etheridge at Sioux City, Iowa's Saturday in the Park festival held this weekend, the more reviews I read, the more it sounds like those vocal few were in the wrong as Etheridge delivered a great set to close out the annual music festival in Grandview Park.

Etheridge mixed in fan favorites along with a few tunes from her new album, showing her very public breakup. She even did an impromptu, made up song called 'Sioux City' that helped her devoted fans fall even more in love with her.

Sublime with Rome were billed as the co-headliners, but outside of true fans, the ska-punk-reggae band suffered through some early sound problems and from reviews and Facebook posts, lead singer Rome Ramirez didn't make many new fans at the family friendly event with less than family friendly lyrics, though he is clearly the star of the band and the reason Sublime is able to continue to tour.

Early highlights from SITP were definitely singer/songwriter ZZ Ward who mixes pop sensibilities with blue-eyed soul, and Sioux Falls 2013 JazzFest performers, the Kris Lager Band.

This was the 23rd annual event. SITP 24 will be July 5, 2014.